Christian Enlistment

Matthew 116:24-26

I have never been in the military and would like to say that I am very thankful for those who serve and have served our country of which many have given their lives. But what I have learned from those who have served is that once you enlist, your life no longer belongs to you. Is this not what Jesus is calling you and I to as his disciples?

There are two things that stick out to me in this text.

First there has to be a denial of oneself. Once we come to Christ our life becomes one with his and we in a sense lose ourselves. Life is no longer about what we want as much as what God wills for us, and sometimes this can be a very difficult adjustment. The cross was a means of death and that is why Jesus calls us to take up our cross just like he did and follow him into a resurrected, spirit filled life where we say, “Not my will but thy will be done.” Paul said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:20 Living for Jesus becomes the goal and the life he called us to is the supreme ethic.

Second, there is a call to suffering. The cross was the most cruel instrument of death in the ancient world. The Latin term for the cross is crux from which we get the English word excruciating. Jesus said that the world was evil and that it hated him. He would go on to say if the world hated him, it would hate his disciples also. Because of the world’s hatred and the attacks of the devil many Christians have suffered torments, torture, and even death. To those who haven’t paid this highest price there is also the suffering of striving against sin and the grief we experience when we suffer from the evil actions of those around us. Jesus said that offenses and tribulation would come but our hope and joy would be found in his overcoming of the world.

Paul compares the Christian life to a soldier and says that a good soldier of the Lord does not get entangled or distracted by the things of the world. A good soldier of the cross must maintain ones focus on following Jesus and pressing on toward the mark of our high calling in Christ. It will not always be an easy life but it can and is a life of contentment and satisfaction that only Christ can give his followers. Even Paul at the end of his life of suffering for the cause of Christ would write to Timothy just before his martyrdom “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8 It was this hope that kept Paul in his sacrifice and suffering for the Lord.

Every soldier will tell you that when they sign up for the military that they know what they are signing up for. Let me ask you this question: Do you know what you have signed up for. I have learned to tell people who want to be saved and baptized that if you are willing to confess and be baptized today, then you need to be willing to die tomorrow. Either die for Christ and the gospel or die to Christ and the gospel. This is the truth and reality of being a follower of Jesus. The chances of us being martyred for the faith in our country right now is small, but in other parts of the world there will be those who come to Christ today and be with Christ tomorrow. Think about this!

Pastor Robby